Wedding

Banns of Marriage

Meanwood welcomes Boroughbridge

Meanwood Mothers’ Union is ‘twinned’ with the Mothers’ Union at Boroughbridge, a sort of urban-rural connection that has worked well for many years. There continues to be an excellent rapport between the two churches. On Thursday 3rd, one of the warmest sunniest days in June, Meanwood hosted a visit by the members of Boroughbridge. The visitors may have felt themselves especially at home when they gathered in the village setting of the Meanwood Institute for lunch. The meal served was Ham and Turkey Salad, followed by Fresh Fruit Salad or Trifle, Cheese and Biscuits, and tea/coffee.
Suitably replenished, the ladies – and gentlemen – made a leisurely way across Meanwood Park to Hollin House, the residence of the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds. The residence is a grade listed building that has been sympathetically refurbished and extended to include a chapel, office facilities for the Bishop’s staff and a conference suite where business meetings can be held.
The Bishop’s wife, Barbara Packer, showed the group round the new extensions. Portraits of previous Bishops are displayed on the stairway including one very large portrait of the first Bishop of Ripon, the Right Revd. Charles Thomas Longley. I am told that it was this gentleman who on 6th August 1849 consecrated our church at Meanwood along with the attached burial ground.
How nice to be able to put a face to the 1849 Bishop!
It is interesting to note that the present Bishop, the Right Revd. John R. Packer, is first to carry the title of Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.
The Boroughbridge visitors were thoroughly enjoying their day. It had come as a surprise that the Bishop’s residence was included in their itinerary.
Everyone then made their way to the very pleasant and peaceful surroundings of Mr. & Mrs. Bewell’s Ivy Cottage for a Devonshire Cream Tea – earlier that morning Peggy Ashton had baked some of her famous scones.
Are all Mothers’ Union meetings like this?!

Lake District magic
On our way to Penrith on the Parish Trip, we stopped for refreshments of coffee and biscuits at St. George’s church in Kendal. St. George’s made us very welcome and there was time to have a good look round their lovely 1841 church building.
Doreen Wood, of the Leeds Movie Makers and a fellow traveller, was recording the events of the day on her video camera. Hope we get to see the results – and also that she has captured my best side!
In Penrith we had free time, most of us finding somewhere to lunch and then exploring the town, before everyone set off for the Reghed Arts/Crafts Centre.
One friend, really in advance of herself, was hugely pleased there with her purchases of two exclusive hand crafted items ready for Christmas presents. I tried but my only purchase was a tub of ice-cream and a loaf of Lakeland Plum Bread.
It is always a joy to see the wonderful Lakeland scenery, especially when the weather is kind – and it was a perfect day.
Our thanks go to both Supo and his wife Barbara for making the arrangements, and the good news is they are happy to organise a parish trip for next year. What we have to do is to put on the thinking caps and suggest places we would like to visit - any ideas?

Opportunist wildlife

Remember the parish trip last year, unfortunately in the rain? It was when we went to Ashford –in-the-Water to view the traditional well dressings. These are pictures made up of flower petals, leaves, seeds etc by the villagers.
I hear that this year one of the exhibits celebrated the centenary of Florence Nightingale.
“The lamp she lit is alight today” 1910-2010.
It was depicted most attractively but there was a hastily produced notice of apology there too. Apparently the decorated border at the bottom of the picture was made out of corn and a troop of ducks had waddled across from the river and eaten most of it!

 Reverend Isobel Rathbone
Isobel and Christopher Rathbone were members of our congregation here at Meanwood. Christopher was the church organist, and both did an absolutely tremendous amount for our church, especially during the seven years of effort to fund lavatory and kitchen facilities in church, and to improve access to the church for people with disabilities.
On 29th April this year a group of us went along to the Parish Church of St. Oswald, Guiseley in the
Diocese of Bradford, where we joined the congregation in witnessing the licensing of the Reverend Isobel Rathbone as Associate Priest in the Parish of Guiseley with Esholt. The Venerable Dr. David Lee the Archdeacon of Bradford presided.
Afterwards with the rest of the congregation we adjourned to the school hall for refreshments where we were joined by Isobel and Christopher, and we were able to catch up on their news.
It was a great pleasure to see them once again and they will remain in our affection and prayers.

Val Milner